The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-06-03
THE GOLDEN LOUIS.

| TRANSLATED from the French OF Francois
Coppee by E. @. Waggener.]
When Lucien had seen his last
hundred franc bill seized by the
rake of the banker, he got up from
the table where be had risked the
remnant of bis little fortune and
threw himself upon the bench that
ran around the sides of the gaming
ball. His head was dizzy, his legs
trembling, and, exhausted by fa-
tigue aud excitement, be soon fell
into profound slumber. When he
awoke AN hour later his mouth was
parched and dry, and iC seemed TO
him that he was Smothering. The
hands OF the clock pointed to TWEEN.
ty minutes of midnight, and, as he
rose to take his departure, he sud.
denly remembered that it was
Christmas Eve, 9nd by an ironlcal
trick OF fancy saw himself again n
child, placing his shoes ia lbe chin
ney corner.
As be was leaving the apartment
the old Pole, Drouski, pillar OF
the gaming hall aud II regular hab.
itue OF the roulette table, came up
to him aud whispered in his ear:
"Lend me five francs, Mons. dAu-
mel; for two days | have never lett
the table, aud in those two days
the number IL has never once been
drawn. Mock me il you WILL, but
you may cut off my right hand If it
doesn't come out on the stroke of
twelve"
Lucien d'Aumel only shrugged
his shoulders aud turned away
how could he lend the Pole even a
fve-fr piece when he hadn't a
sou to his nameR Going into the
ante.chamber, be took up his hat
and cloak aud passed down the
stairs like man bewildered and
walking in dream.
During the four hours that lie
bad been shut up in the gaming hall
the snow had fallen heavily, and the
Street-a street in The center of
Paris, somewhat dingy and built
up with tall and narrow houses
was covered deep with the soft,
white particles. But the storm had
now ceased and the stars were ont,
sparkling coldly in the dark blue
heavens. The pennilesS gambler,
under his fur-lined over
coat, walked rapidly on, his heart
fitted with sad and despairing
thoughts. He had gone but II few
rods, however, when all at once he
stopped, arrested bv pitiful spec
tacle. Upon a bench beside the
door OF a hotel little girl seven or
sight years OF age, scantily clothed
and in rags and tatters, was seated
N the snow. Overcome by fatigue
md wretchedneSs, she had gone to
sleep there in spite of the freezing
,Old. The poor little head had fal.
Ell upon her breast, and the shrunk-
~ shoulders leaned against the icy
stones. Que OF her shoes, world
90 big for her, bad fallen from her
ranging foot aud lay upon the pave
nent at her side. With nechan-
cal gesture Lucien put his hand in
o bis pocket; he had forgotten that
le was penniless, that but a mo-
neut ago he even been unable to
rive The usual pOurboire to tue wait
+ at the hall. Nevertheless, touch
d by a sentiment Of pity, be APP
preached the child, intending to
axe her to place of safety. As
le stopped above her a glitteriug
,omethiag in the bottom OF The old I
,boe caught his attention. he bent
o. examine it, aud found that 1t was
! golden Louis.
Some charitable person. We
nan. doubtIsss-had seen the child
lpd the empty shoe, and remember
pg that IL was the Eve Of Christ
mas. had dropped into il this mag ,
llficent gift, perhaps that tbe little
one might still believe I
4 the coming Of the Christ child, !
md. in spite OF her misery, preserve /
ler confidence in the goodness an J
harity OF God.
A golden Louis meant days Of
on,lort and riches TO this homeless
tile beggar. Lucien d'Aumel vas {